Medium undead, lawful evil
Armor Class 16 (chain shirt, shield)
Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +3 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 12 (+1) | 17 (+3) | 6 (-2) | 9 (-1) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws (suggested) Str +7, Con +7
Damage Resistances necrotic; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, poisoned, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages the languages it knew in life
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Martial Fury. As a bonus action, the sword wraith can make one weapon attack. lf it does so, attack rolls against it have advantage until the start of its next turn.
ACTIONS
- Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage, or 9 (1d10 + 4) slashing damage if used with two hands.
- Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage.
- Claw (suggested). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) slashing damage plus 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the necrotic damage taken. This reduction lasts until the creature finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0. A humanoid slain by this attack rises at the start of the Sword Wraith Warrior’s next turn as a spectre under the Sword Wraith Warrior’s control, unless the humanoid is restored to life or its body is destroyed. The Sword Wraith Warrior can have no more than twelve spectres under its control at one time.
5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite.
The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.
It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it
DESCRIPTION
A sword wraith warrior is a restless spirit of a fallen warrior who died in battle without achieving the glory or honor they craved. They are bound to the place of their death, haunting the battlefield and seeking to slay any living creature that crosses their path. They appear as spectral figures clad in chain shirts and wielding longswords and shields, or sometimes longbows. Their eyes glow with a cold and hateful light, and their voices are harsh and raspy. Sword wraith warriors are driven by a martial fury that makes them relentless and fearless in combat.
COMBAT
Sword wraith warriors are skilled fighters who use their weapons and shields to strike at their enemies. They can also use their longbows to attack from a distance, but they prefer to engage in melee combat. As a bonus action, a sword wraith warrior can make an extra weapon attack, but doing so exposes them to more attacks from their foes. Sword wraith warriors are resistant to necrotic damage and nonmagical physical damage, and immune to poison and several conditions. They also have darkvision, which gives them an advantage in dark or dim environments.
Sword wraith warriors are usually loyal to their former comrades or leaders, who may also be sword wraiths. They will follow the orders of a sword wraith commander, who can summon more sword wraith warriors to aid them in battle. Sword wraith warriors have advantage on saving throws against effects that turn undead, as they are defiant of any attempt to disrupt their eternal war.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
Sword wraith warriors are most often found on ancient battlefields where soldiers were hemmed in and slaughtered without quarter. They may also haunt other places where they died violently, such as dungeons, ruins, or arenas. Sword wraith warriors are usually hostile to any living creature that trespasses on their territory, especially those who belong to the opposing faction or race that caused their death. They may also attack anyone who tries to loot or desecrate the corpses or relics of their fallen allies.
Sword wraith warriors have little sense of individuality or personality, as they are consumed by their obsession with war and glory. They retain some memories of their former lives, such as their language, skills, and tactics, but they have no interest in anything else. They do not need air, food, drink, or sleep, and they do not age or decay. They are doomed to repeat the same battles over and over again, until they are destroyed or somehow freed from their curse.
ECOLOGY
Sword wraith warriors are unnatural creatures that disrupt the balance of life and death. They are created when a warrior dies with a strong attachment to martial glory or honor, but without achieving it. This may happen because of betrayal, cowardice, dishonor, failure, or simply bad luck. The warrior’s spirit refuses to pass on to the afterlife, and instead lingers on the material plane as a sword wraith. Sword wraiths can also be created by powerful necromantic magic or curses that trap the souls of slain warriors.
Sword wraith warriors have few natural enemies, as most living creatures avoid them or flee from them. However, they may encounter other undead creatures that share their territory or seek to challenge them for dominance. Sword wraith warriors may also be hunted by adventurers, clerics, paladins, or other agents of good who seek to end their unnatural existence and restore peace to the land.